[Animal experiment models of hypertension in pregnancy--an alternative to clinical studies?]

Because of ethical constraints upon research during human pregnancy and of the heterogeneity of preeclampsia a number of experimental animal models were used to study pathophysiology of preeclampsia. We reduced the uteroplacental flow by aortic clip technique in 72 SHR-rats in 4 groups (G 1 not gravid--no clip, G 2 not gravid--aortic clip, G 3 gravid--no clip, G 4 gravid--aortic clip). While gravidity normalised blood pressure in SHR (G 3), reduction of the uteroplacental flow significantly increased maternal blood pressure (G1 240/180 mmHG, G2 238/183 mmHg, G3 148/99 mmHG, G4 200/145 mmHg) and leads to significant higher hematocrit, significant lower plasma renin activity and aldosterone plasma concentration, as it is found in human superimposed preeclampsia. SDS-page electrophoresis proved a significant increase of urinary high density proteins.

In comparison to chronical inhibition of NO-synthesis or chronical application of ultra-low-doses-endotoxin, reduction of uterine flow by aortic compression is a reliable animal model and leads in SHR to a superimposed preeclampsia-like syndrome with many similarities to human clinical findings. Animal models for preeclampsia are no alternative to clinical studies, but they are furthering our understanding of pathophysiology in many fields.